Church History & Doctrine Travel Study

Welcome

Program Overview

How to Apply

Program Costs

Program Dates

Travel Itinerary & Locations

Participant Expectations

FAQ

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Missouri & Illinois Church History Sites

2025 Spring Term — April 28 to June 17

Bound to Christ

Experience the Restoring of the Everlasting Covenant

Program Flyer

The Department of Church History and Doctrine at BYU is excited to announce the Church History & Doctrine Travel Study Program for Spring Term 2025. Organized around the theme of “Bound to Christ,” you will be immersed in the very locations where the restoration of temple covenants took place. Guided by BYU Church History and Doctrine professors, this experiential program begins with a week of on-campus instruction, after which you will embark on a 17-day onsite learning experience to Missouri (including Independence, Liberty Jail, Richmond, Far West, Hawn’s Mill, and Adam-ondi-Ahman) and Illinois (including the many sites in and surrounding the City of Nauvoo, as well as Quincy, Carthage Jail, and Springfield). While at these historic sites, you will learn about the Source of the power and strength the early saints received from being bound to Christ through temple covenants at the very locations where the Everlasting Covenant was restored and taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. You will personally witness the power of Christ as you discover how these faithful pioneers endured persecution and hardship leading up to and following their endowment of power. Throughout this travel study experience, you will be invited to explore how these same empowering blessings of being bound to Christ are accessible to you during your own covenantal journey.

The Spring Term travel study program begins April 28, 2025, with one week of on-campus instruction from April 28 to May 2. Students will then participate in a 17-day onsite learning experience in Missouri and Illinois. To accommodate more students, there will be two 17-day onsite sessions: May 4 to 20 and May 22 to June 7. Students will attend one of these two sessions. Following each onsite session, there will be additional instruction and activities leading up to the end of the term, June 17, 2025. Upon successful completion of the travel study program, students will receive 4 hours of Religion credits—Rel C 325 (Doctrine and Covenants) and Rel C 323 (Field Studies in Nauvoo, Illinois).

Thanks to the generous financial support of Religious Education at BYU, the program fee will be approximately $500 for each student. The program fee covers students’ lodging, ground transportation, admissions, and about 25 group meals. In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for the 2025 Spring Term tuition, roundtrip airfare to/from Missouri, and personal expenses and incidentals.

For more information and details, including program costs, dates, expectations, travel itinerary, on-site study locations, and application instructions see the tabs above on this website. The program is open to all BYU students regardless of major.

Applications are now being accepted through January 17, 2025.

To apply, see the Application tab above.

(On mobile devices tap the "Program Overview" button at the top of the page to navigate to the Application tab and other tabs.)

Direct questions to the Program Director:

Dr. Byran Korth

365D JSB

(801) 422-8662

byran_korth@byu.edu

Application Information & Instructions

To apply to the 2025 Travel Study Program click the "Apply Now" button at the bottom of this page.

Before applying, be sure to review the following information and instructions below as well as the Participation Costs, Program Dates, Travel Itinerary, and Participation Expectations tabs at the top of the page.

Space is limited for this travel study program. Applications will be used to make admission and planning decisions. After applications close on January 17, 2025, the program director will review all applications. Selected applicants will be invited for interviews in late January. After interviews are completed, all applicants will receive email notifications regarding admission decisions in early February.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old on the program’s start date (April 28, 2024). Admission preference will be given to currently enrolled BYU-Provo students. The travel study program is open to all majors.

Be prepared to submit the following in your application:

A photo of yourself.
Optional - A brief video (no more than 2 minutes) introducing yourself including your name, where you are from, any hobbies, talents, or interests, and how a close friend or family member would describe you and your personality.
Personal information like your phone number and address.
Emergency contact information.
BYU academic information.
Indication that you have reviewed and understand the program’s expectations and requirements.
Academic and character references.

While you have the option to save your application before submitting it, you are encouraged to complete it in one session.

Be prepared to answer the following brief essay questions on your application. You are encouraged to type and save your responses in a word processor, then copy and paste them into the application.

What inspired you to apply to this Church History & Doctrine Travel Study Program? How do you envision this experience shaping your understanding of church history and your testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ? (No more than 300 words)
Similar travel study programs will be offered in the future. Why is this Spring Term 2025 the ideal time for you to participate in this program? (No more than 150 words)
This program emphasizes close collaboration with others. How will you contribute uniquely to a supportive, enjoyable, and spiritually enriching group experience? (No more than 150 words)
Identify a specific topic or doctrine related to the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ that you wish to gain a deeper understanding and testimony of. This could include topics or doctrine that you wrestle with and/or challenge your testimony. Explain how you envision this travel study experience helping you in deepening your understanding and testimony. (No more than 300 words)

NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE CLICKING "APPLY NOW".

Please review the information & instructions above, as well as information on Participation Costs, Program Dates, and Travel Itinerary (see tabs at top of page).
To access the application, you will be asked to login to Microsoft using your BYU NETID@byu.edu. If your browser is already logged into a Google account you will need to either logout or open a private/incognito window in your browser and then login using your NETID@byu.edu.
If you have any issues accessing or completing the application, please contact the Program Director: Dr. Byran Korth, bkorth@byu.edu or 801-422-8662.

Apply Now

Program Dates

Spring Term 2025

Important:

Admitted students are committing to being available for the entirety of the program dates: April 28 to June 17.
Upon successful completion of the travel study program, students will receive 4 hours of Religion credits—Rel C 325 (Doctrine and Covenants) and Rel C 323 (Field Studies in Nauvoo, Illinois).
Admitted students will be required to attend 1-2 preparatory meetings during the Winter 2025 semester. The dates and times for these meetings will be established after students have been admitted.
Program dates are subject to change prior to the start of the program.

On-Campus Instruction — Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2

All admitted students will be required to attend this one week of on-campus instruction.
Meeting time for each day will be approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Church History and Doctrine professors will provide important instruction that will prepare students for the on-site learning experience.
Students will prepare for each day of instruction by reviewing selected readings and videos. Readings will be drawn from The Doctrine and Covenants, Saints, volume 1, The Joseph Smith Papers, etc.

17-Day Onsite Learning Experience to Missouri and Illinois

All admitted students will participate in a 17-day onsite learning experience.
To accommodate more students, there will be two 17-day onsite sessions. Students will be assigned to one of the following sessions. Each session will be going to the same locations in Missouri and Illinois. While students can indicate session preference on their application, it is important to remember that admitted students must be available for the entirety of the program.
- Session 1 will be May 4 to 20.
- Session 2 will be May 22 to June 7.
During the online learning experience, students will be expected to complete daily readings from a site guide that will be provided. Daily reflections will also be an important part of the learning experience.

Additional Instruction & Activities

Depending on your assigned onsite session, there will be additional instruction and activities before and/or after you complete the onsite session.
- Thus, during onsite session 1, the students waiting to go on session 2 will have some additional instruction and activities.
- And during onsite session 2, the students that completed onsite session 1 will have some additional instruction and activities.
The additional instruction and activities will not be a daily class like at the on-campus instruction that took place at the beginning of the program.
The dates and nature of the instruction and activities will be determined and announced in plenty of time before the start of the program so students can plan accordingly.
Like any college course, there will be assessments and assignments, including a final exam. The nature of these will align with the experiential nature of the travel study program. The final exam must be submitted by the end of the term, Monday, June 17.

General 17-Day Onsite Itinerary

Important:

The following is the general 17-day onsite itinerary. A more detailed itinerary will be provided prior to the start of the program.
Admitted students will participate in a 17-day onsite travel study experience to Missouri and Illinois. To accommodate more students in the program, there will be two sessions of the onsite travel study experience. Each session will include the same locations in Missouri and Illinois. Students will be assigned to participate in one of the two sessions. Session 1 will be May 4-20 and Session 2 will be May 22 to June 7. Students will indicate their session preference on the application. Note that while preferences will be considered for planning purposes, application to the program indicates a willingness to be assigned to either group.
Transportation while in Missouri and Illinois will be via vans
This general itinerary is subject to change.

Days 1-4 — Missouri Sites (lodging near Liberty/Independence)

Arrive at Kansas City Airport
Independence Visitor Center, Temple Lot, Community of Christ Temple tour, downtown Independence, and other historic sites around Independence.
Liberty Jail, Richmond, Far West, Hawn's Mill, Adam-ondi-Ahman, and other historic sites around these locations.
Kansas City Temple (baptism and/or endowment ordinances) and areas around Kansas City

Days 4-16 — Illinois Sites (lodging in Nauvoo)

City of Nauvoo (instruction will occur both onsite and in a classroom in Nauvoo)
- Nauvoo Visitor Center, Red Brick Store, Smith Family Homestead, Mansion House, Nauvoo House
- Nauvoo Temple (baptism and/or endowment ordinances)
- Homes of the apostles, Seventy's Hall, and Nauvoo Temple District
- Women's Garden (RS Monuments), Lucy Mack Smith Home, and Sarah Granger Kimball home
- Old Nauvoo Pioneer Cemetery, West Grove, Old Downtown Main Street Shops and Trades, and horse stable
- And many other historic sites in and surrounding the City of Nauvoo
- Performances by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries
Carthage and Carthage Jail
Ramus (Webster); Warsaw; Tioga (Morely Settlement); Hannibal — Mark Twain River Boat Dinner Cruise; and Monroe, Iowa
Springfield — Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum and Church historic sites

*Day 16-17 — St. Louis, Missouri

*Note that this day is subject to change. If changed, program will remain in Nauvoo and return to Kansas City on Day 17.
St. Louis Gateway Arch & Museum
Downtown St. Louis
Depart from St. Louis airport

Expectations for Participation

The following is a SUMMARY OF EXPECTATIONS for participation in the 2025 Church History & Travel Student Program. A more detailed description can be found here: Expectations for Participation Form. Application to the program indicates that applicants have read this form, understand its contents, and will voluntarily agree to all the terms and conditions set forth herein if admitted to the program.

Financial Requirements and Participation Costs:

Payment of the final program fee
Payment of the roundtrip airfare to/from Missouri. Student is responsible for booking roundtrip to/from Missouri.
Payment of the tuition
Payment of any incidental and personal expenses

Health Insurance Requirements:

Adequate domestic health insurance coverage
Participants with Disabilities—Travel Study Programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing. Please carefully review the requirements of this Church History Travel Study Program. Then, if you have concerns or if you have a disability that will require accommodation, please contact the program directors and/or the University Accessibility Center.

Program Participation Requirements:

Enrollment in the 2 classes (Rel C 323 & Rel C 325) required for this program. (Instructions for enrollment will be provided after admitted to the program.)
Attendance to the on-campus instruction as outlined in the program description. Any inability to attend these classes must be cleared with the program directors prior to starting the program. Illnesses and other unforeseen circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case situation.
Admitted students will not take any additional courses beyond the 2 class (4 credit hours) required for the program without first getting clearance from the program directors.
Admitted students will fully participate during the onsite travel study part of the program.

Honor Code Requirements:

Admitted students must be currently abiding by the BYU Honor Code, and have a current ecclesiastical endorsement form on file.
Admitted students are not currently on academic or honor code probation at BYU or at any other school.
Admitted students understand that if they are put on academic or honor code probation while traveling, they will be required to leave the Church History Travel Study Program, will not be entitled to a refund, and will be required to pay any costs related to my early departure.

Legal Requirements:

See the Expectations for Participation Form for a Nondiscrimination Statement, policy regarding Termination from Program, Assumption of Risk, Waiver of Liability, and Disclosure and Declaration of Agreement.

Admitted students will be required to sign the Expectations for Participation Form as a condition of their acceptance, indicating they have carefully read this document, understand its contents, and voluntarily agree to all the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions. Please reach out to the program director with any questions: Dr. Byran Korth, bkorth@byu.edu, 801-422-8662.

Who can apply?

The Travel Study Program is open to all majors.
Because space is limited, preference is given to full-time BYU-Provo students
There are no prerequisite religion courses.

Can married couples attend? How does lodging work for married couples? What if one of the spouses is not enrolled at BYU?

Yes, married couples can apply. During the admission process, we will make every effort to admit the married couple together.
While lodging is based on roommates of the same gender, if a married couple is admitted, we will do our best to accommodate them in a room together.
As per the program information, admission preference is given to enrolled BYU-Provo students. However, if one of the spouses in a married couple is not an enrolled BYU-Provo student, please still apply and visit with the program director to explore admission options for the non-BYU enrolled spouse. Program fees remain applicable, but course enrollment options would need to be discussed.

I understand that the four credit hours for this travel study count toward the six elective religion credit hours required for graduation. However, I’ve already completed the six elective credit hours. Can I use the travel study credit hours toward my eight required religion credit hours? Are there any other options?

• • • • • The program is designed to align with the two religion courses: Rel C 323, Field Studies in Nauvoo, and Rel C 325, Doctrine and Covenants (Sections 77 through Official Declaration 2).
These cannot be counted toward the required religion courses. However, it’s worth noting that even if you’ve already fulfilled the required six elective religion credit hours, these four credit hours from the travel study will still contribute to your overall credit hours needed for graduation. A candidate for a baccalaureate degree must accumulate a minimum of 120 credit hours. Therefore, even if you’ve already completed your religion requirements, the travel student credit hours will still count toward your overall credit hours required for graduation.

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Can I be enrolled in other classes while I participate in the travel student program?

Due to the 17-day onsite experience, it would be very difficult to be enrolled in another BYU Spring Term course and fulfill the expectations of that course and the Travel Study Program. Thus, admitted students are prohibited from enrolling in additional Spring Term courses without the approval of the program director.

What are the costs participate in the program?

See the "Participation Costs" tab at the top of this page for a detailed description of all required costs to participate in the Travel Study Program.

Do I have to participate in the entire on-campus instructional portion of the program?

Yes. In order fulfill the 4 credits of two religion courses and to be prepared for the 17-day onsite travel portion of the program, all admitted students must participate in the one week on-campus portion of the program. Any exceptions to this must be approved by the program director.

How do I make flight reservations?

Admitted students are responsible for the roundtrip airfare to/from Missouri and making the reservations. You can use booking websites or go directly to the airline. You can also go to travel.byu.edu for booking options through BYU.

What is the workload like during the onsite portion of the program?

Like any college level course, this is a rigorous travel study program. To make the most of this experiential learning opportunity, students are required to participate in both on-campus and onsite instruction provided by BYU Church History and Doctrine professors. Readings will include the Scriptures, conference talks, Saints, Joseph Smith Papers, etc. Students will also be provided with a Site Guide. Assignments, exams, and reflections will be part of the learning experience.
All this being said, the program strives to have an appropriate balance between the rigor of the travel itself and the importance of preparatory and followup work, all essential to a successful travel study experience.

More FAQs will be added...

Church History & Doctrine Travel Study